The Firmin Sword of Peace (previously known as the Wilkinson Sword of Peace) is an award given to units of the British Armed Forces for activities above and beyond the unit's normal role that improve relations with the community, either within the United Kingdom, or overseas.
The award was established by British swordmaker Wilkinson Sword in 1966, with the company presenting a ceremonial sword to one unit each of the Royal Navy (including the Royal Fleet Auxiliary), British Army, and Royal Air Force; each unit having been judged as making the most outstanding contribution to community relations within each service during the calendar year.
An award can be shared between multiple units on the same operation: for example, the 1998 Navy award was presented to the Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships and for their involvement in Operation Teller (the British relief response to Hurricane Mitch). The award can also be shared with foreign military units: the frigates and received the 1983 Navy Sword of Peace after a series of port visits made by the two ships to African nations sparked several diplomatic initiatives. From 1994 onwards, the company began presenting a fourth sword to any joint-service unit or ad hoc single-operation unit that met the criteria for the award. Unlike the awards for the three services, the "Special" sword was only presented if such a unit existed and was deemed worth recognising.
After Wilkinson stopped the production of swords in 2005, Firmin & Sons began sponsoring the award. Awards have been made as follows: Firmin Sword of Peace
Year Royal Navy Army RAF Joint Service 20052007 Defence Instruction 10-004 released in February 2007 International Mine Action Training Centre (IMATC) Royal Engineers RAF Linton on Ouse No Award 20062007 Defence Instruction 09-031 released in November 2007 No Award Support Battalion Headquarters Allied Rapid Reaction Corps RAF Shawbury Joint Service Signal Unit (Cyprus) 20072008 Defence Instruction 09-010 released in October 2008 39 Engineer Regiment RAF Aldergrove RAF Digby 20082009 Defence Instruction 09-011 released in October 2009 Northern Diving Group 24 Field Squadron (Air Support) Royal Engineers RAF Shawbury Joint Service Signal Unit (Cyprus) 20092010 Defence Instruction 01-181 released in October 2010 No Award No Award RAF High Wycombe The Military Stabilisation Support Group (MSSG) 20102011 Defence Instruction 01-214 released in November 2011 RFA Largs Bay 64 Works Group Royal Engineers RAF Shawbury Joint Force Command Brunssum 20112012 Defence Instruction 09-022 released in December 2012 No Award No Award RAF Leeming 15 (UK) Psychological Operations Group 20122013 Defence Instruction 09-017 released in December 2013 First Patrol Boat Squadron No Award RAF Cosford No Award 20132014 Defence Instruction 09-020 released in December 2014 No Award RAF Brize Norton 20142015 Defence Instruction 01-217 released in November 2015 No Award 5 Armoured Medical Regiment RAF Search and Rescue Force No Award 20152016 Defence Instruction 01-164 released in November 2016 2 Signal Regiment The RAF Police The Defence Cultural Specialist Unit 20162018 Defence Instruction 01-014 released in January 2018 No Award 11 (EOD) Regiment Royal Logistic Corps RAF Marham No Award
Additionally in 2014 a Special Achievement Award was made to the Gurkha Welfare Scheme. Wilkinson Sword of Peace
Year Royal Navy Army RAF Joint Service 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998Hansard Task Group 326.02 (Op Teller) 8 R Irish (NI) RAF Aldergrove 1997Hansard 819 Naval Air Squadron The Household Cavalry Regiment 1 & 34 Squadron RAF Regiment (Bosnia) 1996Hansard Inshore Training Squadron Russia and Spain 36 Engr Regt, Bosnia, & 1 RMP Bosnia/Germany RAF Stornaway 1995Hansard HMS Invincible Gurkha Welfare Scheme Nepal RAF Laarbruch (Bosnia, Romania & Holland) 1994Hansard HMS Fearless 1 KOBR ((NI) RAF Manston 1993Hansard HMS London 21 Engineer Regiment RAF Kinloss 1992Hansard MCM Squadron 7 Signal Regiment (Albania) & 1st Cheshire Regiment, Bn Group, Bosnia RAF Lyneham 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 3rd Bn The Queen's Regiment (Belize 86)Kentish Gazette - Friday 25 September 1987 p.12 1986 HMS Brazen Hansard 1985 47 Air Despatch Squadron RCT 1984 1983 HMS Galatea and HMNZS Canterbury 1982 1981 1980 1979 HMS Fifi
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